Norwalk parents, faculty concerned about possible art, music cuts

Norwalk resident Dawn Freeman said her four children "really struggled with math" before getting involved with Norwalk City Schools' music program. Since then, "those grades significantly improved," she added.

Now, Freeman, faculty, students and parents are concerned that the Norwalk school board will cut the music and art programs to offset deficit spending.

In a letter to her contacts, Freeman, an art therapist, wrote that faculty members had announced at a band concert that "the Norwalk City Schools are planning to cut the music and art programs, especially at the younger levels. This would cause serious problems for our music and arts programs and would result in not only diminished music and arts programs but could also lower test scores, especially in the math and sciences field."

The school board recently voted to place a 6-mill, five-year emergency operating levy on the May ballot.

While Superintendent Dennis Doughty said the school board has not taken any action to cut programs, he conceded: "We do know if we don't pass a levy, we're going to have to cut programs."

A special session board meeting, which is open to the public, is planned for 7 p.m. Monday in the central board conference room, 134 Benedict Ave. According to an announcement of the meeting, board members may take action.